To Drown a Witch - Tome 1

by Lindsay Olsson, Maud Desurvire (Translator)

Au royaume de Gadore, ce que l'on redoute plus que tout, c'est la sorcière.
Comme chacun sait, personne ne sera en sécurité tant qu'on ne l'aura pas noyée. Toran, l'un des plus habiles combattants de la garde royale, est envoyé sur ses traces pour en débarrasser son peuple une bonne fois pour toutes.
Pour cette mission, il recrute Nes, une voleuse dotée d'une étrange capacité à flairer la magie. Les deux improbables compagnons vont devoir apprendre à s'apprivoiser malgré leurs différends, car la vie d'innocentes est en jeu. Et la sorcière a toujours un coup d'avance...

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Romantasy, Witches, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy

441 pages, Paperback

First published July 14, 2026

About the author

Lindsey Olsson grew up in central New Jersey where she searched for magic in the mundane. From a young age, her stories were filled with magic wands, vengeful ghosts, and swoonworthy shapeshifters (even when she was instructed to write non- fiction).

After studying creative writing at Elon University, she went on to receive an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Hamline University. When she isn't covering the walls of her home with book ideas, she can be found skiing and snowboarding, climbing rock walls, or adventuring alongside her husband. She has yet to say no when offered a doughnut...or a dozen.

Reviews

[DianaRose]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

unfortunately, dnf @48ish%

edit 8/24: lol not me literally getting my fairyloot edition (i forgot it was selected for august YA…) and it’s actually rather pretty🫠

lindsey olsson's to drown a witch is apparently perfect for readers that enjoyed the crimson moth, and i did absolutely love the first book in the series, so i was hoping to enjoy this novel. unfortunately, i could not tell you anything about any of the main characters or the plot, outside of the the description.

in to drown a witch, a criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch who is reborn into each new generation; this witch is the only human to have magic running through her veins and at her fingertips with a single thought. this plot had so much potential, but unfortunately i just did not connect with the characters or writing at all, even with the assistance of the audiobook.

i wish it lived up to the hype i felt through the blurb, because it had so much potential, but it just wasn’t for me.

[ellie]

— 2.5 ☆ .ᐟ ⌗ 🌹 spoiler free + mini review
⤷ hmm it was going good but i didnt care enough

⋆˚࿔ 60th review of the year
arc review

⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱🧹
⤷ ugh i SO wanted to love this but 🥲 it wasn't a bad book per say, it was just really hard to connect with anybody, and it was also super predictable. honestly a rip off heartless hunter 🙏 the first 200 pages were really fun, but the more i continued to read i just did not care. i knew what would happen and the writing wasn't my favorite either

overall i'd love to see what others think of this! also kind of disappointing to market this to 9th graders when it literally says for 'steamy romantasy fans'?? HELLO. please market your books right lol. overall, worth a shot but ehh. curious to see what the next book will be like!

again, thank you to the publishers for an arc copy. all ratings and opinions are my own.

----------------

🌹 — pre-read .ᐟ ⌗

𐔌 ♯┆6.12.26
⤷ AHH a fantasy for june 🙈 i can't wait to try this!! *for fans of heartless hunter* OKAY WELL SIGN ME UP HELLO?? thank you to the publishers for a physical arc! this is out in july 🫂

[Sophie]

Mixed feelings with this one!

There is a lot to like here: the grisly murders and the witch hunt gripped me and were honestly the best part.

But the romance felt super rushed. They meet 25% into the book, and 25% later their interest is pretty clear. They’re enemies on paper only, and get along quite well almost immediately. The ‘enemies’ part does get better closer to the end because of all the twists, but it honestly made me hate them both even more… do with that what you will. I think Heartless Hunter did the romance way better.

Thankfully the mystery kept me entertained enough. Once the clues started coming together and the plot twists hit, I flew through the rest pretty fast. Some were pretty obvious, others not as much. I think there will always be at least one thing you won’t see coming.

The ending was super frustrating though, and ends on a confusing, open-ended cliffhanger. It made me bump down my rating from 3 to 2.5 stars.

─ ✦ ────

✎ᝰ.┊pre-read: You had me at enemies-to-lovers 🤭 I’m so excited to start this!!!

⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Bookishness]

I decided to read this book solely because of how beautiful my FairyLoot edition was, and I’m so glad I did! It definitely gave me *Heartless Hunter* vibes, which immediately pulled me in.

The plot was intriguing, and the magic system really grabbed my attention. The romance was more of a subplot and didn’t completely capture me the way I hoped it would, but I have some theories about why and I can’t wait for Book 2 to see if I’m right!

My advice: be patient with this one. It’s the first book in a duology, so there are still MANY unanswered questions. The last few chapters, especially the ending, completely grabbed my attention and left me needing the next book immediately. Sorry guys, I cant say more without spoiling it!

Great banter, betrayal, heartbreak, longing, and plenty of plot twists some I saw coming and others that shocked me. I really can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

[Lexi]

1⭐️

ARC Review

Publication Date: 07/14/26

It might be time to resign myself to the fact that witch hunt storylines are not my type of books…

I really wish that authors and/or publishers would stop using popular books to promote new/up and coming content. It is starting to become a turnoff and, most times, feels like false advertising. To Drown A Witch is one of those examples.

According to the tagline to promote this book, Heartless Hunter has been used to entice readers, who loved that series, to give To Drown A Witch a chance. As someone who both loves the Heartless Hunter series and has just finished this book, I can confirm that these two books ARE NOT the same. Just a few examples:

(1) Where Heartless Hunter is a straightforward witch versus witch hunter story, To Drown A Witch tries to hide who the witch is (it doesn’t take long for a reader to figure out who the witch is.)

(2) Where Heartless Hunter is fast-paced and full of chemistry between the FMC and MMC, To Drown A Witch is very slow-paced, confusing, and there isn’t an ounce of chemistry between the FMC and the MMC.

(3) Where Heartless Hunter is capable of drawing readers in from the very first chapter, To Drown A Witch is capable of drawing readers in for the first few chapter, but just as a quickly makes readers become disinterested by Chapter 7.

I could sit here and list several more differences between Heartless Hunter and To Drown A Witch, but that is not what I want my review to focus on. My point, though, is that anyone who picks this up in hopes to find a Heartless Hunter similarly will walk away very disappointed. I say this because I am one of those readers. And yes, I am very unhappy and annoyed by this fact.

To Drown A Witch reads like a novel with a witch versus witch hunter storyline, but it is slightly misleading. It contains a somewhat murder myself element mixed with magic is illegal troupe and a Royal Kingdom. As I mentioned previously, this book tries to make the identity of the witch all mysterious, but if you read this with its audiobook companion (like I did), you will figure out who she is in the prologue. Nothing too mysterious about that.

My reasons for rating To Drown A Witch a One Star read are as follows:

(1) The FMC, Nes, is very plain Jane. Her main features are her red hair, blue eyes, and her million and one freckles. There is just nothing special or remarkable about her.

(2) The MMC, Toran, is even worse. Like every other male character, he is supposed be strong jawed, beautiful eyes, and a part of the all mighty Royal Court. In reality, Toran is a butt hole who drinks a lot and lies for no reason. Sometime later in the story, he claims to have known who the witch was this whole time and when his conclusions are listed, all a reader can do is roll their eyes.

(3) Altogether, To Drown A Witch is written in a way that is difficult to follow (literally a time up happens and a reader doesn't figure it out until the middle of said chapter), none of the twists truly stick, and I got bored too quickly. I wanted to DNF is by Chapter 10.

There is a huge possibility that I will forget everything about this book two-three months from now. If this turns out to be a duology, I have no intention of rereading this just so I can read Book #2. However, I might find myself picking up Book #2 just to skim it and see how everything comes to a conclusion. While I am planning to make To Drown A Witch my last witch/witch hunter novel, I do think that this book will find its audience. There are a number of other readers who have DNF’d this book (and their reasons are very valid), but anyone who decides to pick this up and read it then they should. Just because this didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else.

I want to wish Lindsey Olsson all the best on her future endeavors, especially her writing career.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for granting my request for an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

[kat]

╰┈➤ to drown a witch
★★★★☆

☾ currently thinking about:
that ending genuinely came for my throat because HOW did i not see that coming?!

dear diary,

there is something about a book that makes you think you have everything figured out, only to turn around and make you realise you were absolutely nowhere near the truth. that was my experience with to drown a witch. i went into this expecting witches, witch hunters, magic and a little romantasy goodness, but this ended up being much more of a mystery than i anticipated - and honestly, i was completely here for it.

the world immediately had such an intriguing atmosphere. magic is illegal, there’s an underground trade surrounding it, people are terrified of the witch, and girls have been accused and punished simply because everyone is desperate to find someone to blame. add in mysterious deaths, a morally grey thief, a grieving guard and a kingdom full of secrets and you have a recipe for a very entertaining reading experience. there were definitely moments where i wanted MORE from the world because there are so many little places, characters and pieces of history mentioned that feel like they’re going to become important later.

and then we got to THAT ending. 😭 i genuinely thought i had some of it worked out. i had theories. i had suspicions. i was feeling rather pleased with myself. turns out i needed to sit down and mind my business because i was WRONG. the final stretch completely changed the energy of the book and left me staring at the page like excuse me????? i need book two immediately, thank you very much.

☾ the characters

nes was probably my favourite part of this book. she’s clever, stubborn, morally grey and has absolutely no interest in letting anyone walk all over her. she comes from the ditch and has had to learn how to survive by getting her hands dirty, but underneath all of that she has such a strong emotional motivation because everything she does is ultimately tied back to getting her father out of prison. i loved that she wasn’t written as this perfect heroine who always knows what to do. she makes mistakes, she takes risks and she can be selfish when she needs to be - and somehow that made her feel much more real.

toran was… a journey. 😭 this man had me going through approximately seventeen different emotional stages. he starts off as this incredibly capable member of the king’s guard who is carrying grief, guilt and the pressure of having failed before. i really liked getting to see the contrast between him and nes because they come from completely different worlds and have such different ideas about loyalty and authority. there was definitely something interesting underneath his very controlled exterior, even if i sometimes wanted to shake him.

there are also quite a few side characters who i’m hoping we get more of in the next book. genna, quint, suri and phineas all brought something different to the story, but phineas especially caught my attention. there’s something about a charismatic crime lord who seems to know far more than he lets on that immediately has me suspicious. 👀 i also desperately need more answers about the prince, aeos and some of the other little pieces of history that were dropped into the story because i feel like there is a LOT still hiding beneath the surface.

☾ the romance

the romance was such a slow little burn that i spent half the book thinking PLEASE just admit you like each other already. 😭 nes and toran have such different personalities and backgrounds, so watching them gradually become more comfortable around each other was probably my favourite part of their relationship. the banter worked for me, and i loved those little moments where the walls between them started to come down.

there was definitely a point where i wanted more emotional depth from them, though. i could see the potential for something really special between nes and toran, but sometimes i wanted to actually sit inside their feelings a little longer rather than just being shown the next plot development. give me the yearning. give me the internal spiralling. give me the “oh no, i care about this person and that is TERRIBLE” energy. i needed more of that. 🫠

and then the book decided to take that relationship and throw it directly into traffic. WHAT WAS THAT. one minute i was happily rooting for them and thinking they were actually adorable, and the next i was sitting there trying to process how quickly my feelings had changed. i don’t even know whether i should be furious, impressed or both. all i know is that book two has some serious emotional work to do because i am not simply moving on from that ending. absolutely not.

☾ the plot

the mystery surprised me because i normally need a story to move pretty quickly for me to stay completely invested in a mystery, but i actually really enjoyed trying to work out what was happening here. the whole concept of one witch being reborn and magic being something feared, forbidden and traded through underground channels gave the story a really interesting foundation. there was always another little clue or suspicious detail to make me reconsider what i thought i knew.

the middle did slow down for me a little, and i think some of the world-building could have been expanded because there were times when i knew there was something interesting happening underneath the surface but didn’t quite have enough information to fully understand it. the first half felt more like setting up the pieces on the board, while the second half started moving them around MUCH faster.

but once the final part kicked in, i was locked in. the twists, the betrayals, the revelations and the sheer amount of WHAT THE HELL moments had me flying through the pages. and i especially loved that feeling of realising afterwards that certain things might have been sitting right in front of me the whole time. suddenly all those little details feel suspicious. 👀 i already know i’m going to want to go back and look at everything differently once book two comes around.

☾ the damage

★★★☆☆ emotional stability: questionable
★★★☆☆ ability to predict the ending: absolutely nonexistent
★★★★☆ attachment to fictional characters: unfortunately severe
★★★★☆ willingness to forgive toran: currently under review
★★★★★ need for book two: emergency situation

the biggest thing holding this back from a full five stars for me was that i wanted more. more world-building, more character depth, more time with certain relationships and more answers about all the mysterious little details that were introduced. i think the story has a genuinely fascinating foundation, but sometimes it felt like the book was racing towards the next revelation before giving me enough time to fully absorb the one before it.

and yet… despite all of that, i had FUN. there’s something to be said for a book that can make you suspicious of absolutely everyone, convince you that you’ve cracked the mystery and then completely humble you in the final chapters. i finished this with questions, theories and a desperate need to know what happens next, which is exactly what you want from the first book in a series.

and finally…

to drown a witch was a messy, mysterious, twisty little romantasy that kept surprising me when i thought i had finally got a handle on it. i loved nes, enjoyed the dynamic between her and toran, and found the whole idea of the witch and illegal magic genuinely fascinating. i just wish the world and characters had been given a little more room to breathe because there is SO much potential here.

but that ending??? 😭 yeah. i’m absolutely going to be picking up book two. i need answers about the witch, toran, nes, the prince, aeos and approximately seventeen other things that this book has now left rattling around in my brain. 3.75 stars feels right, but i’m leaving the door very much open for this series to completely destroy me in the next instalment. 🕯️

♡ rating: ★★★¾☆



⋆｡°✩°｡⋆
pre-reading ☾

mood: 🕯️✨
expectations: ✦🖤
hopes: ♡🔮
predictions: ☾🌙
emotional stability: †🫠

this is my first book by this author and i think it’s a debut, which makes me even more intrigued to see what i think! anything involving witches, magic and a little bit of darkness is basically guaranteed to get my attention, so i’m already very excited to dive into this one. it’s also been marketed as being for fans of heartless hunter, which i absolutely loved, so that has definitely raised my expectations 👀 i’m hoping for a really immersive magical world, plenty of witchy vibes, characters i become completely obsessed with and hopefully some romance to keep me emotionally invested. basically, i have high hopes and absolutely no intention of being normal about this book if it delivers. 🕯️🔮

✦ let’s see what happens…

[Chelsea Reed]

Lindsey Olsson, how fucking dare you!?

When the publishers for this story sent me this book I instantly fell in love with the cover. Then I started reading, and my GOD I fell in love with the characters too. We have to two flawed main characters, one who wants to save her Dad from imprisonment, the other who wants to find “the witch”. I thought I was getting a standard witch x witch hunter story but BOY WAS I WRONG!

THAT ENDING?!

I’m pretty sure I should be put in a c-collar for the levels of whiplash I experienced during those final few chapters. Olsson is a master of plot twists and I will be anxiously awaiting book 2!

[Keri]

Two Words: THE BANTER.

[Kaitie Reads]

​💚 Witch Hunt
🪄 Strong FMC
💚 Banter
🪄 Guard × Criminal
💚 YA Romantasy

I desperately wanted to love this. I think the concept is unique; I liked the characters—however, the execution and dialogue both feel... choppy.

•

​Nes, a thief and criminal in Orlonea with the rare ability to smell magic, is desperately trying to get her father out of prison. Toran, the Prince's Crown and a champion fighter in the King's Guard, is hunting "The Witch"—a rare wielder of magic who is killing the King's Guard and putting the entire kingdom on edge. When Toran discovers Nes's rare ability, he manipulates her into joining the hunt, promising her her father's release in exchange for her services.

•

​My biggest problem with this book is that the plot reveals feel either comically predictable or simply unhinged. I did love the concept overall and the banter between the MCs—I actually liked both MCs despite them feeling naive. Nes is a strong FMC, which I can always admire, but she also kind of has that "hey boys, I can spit on the ground too" vibe (IYKYK), which at times feels a little irritating. Sometimes the descriptions of her character (cunning, clever) don't line up with the naive choices she makes. For Toran—well, he is supposed to be one of the most skilled fighters in the kingdom, but he is as daft as a doorknob. The character titles do not line up with the energy they are giving.

​One of the reasons they are so determined to find the witch of Orlonea is because the captain of the King's Guard keeps throwing innocent girls and women into the infamous "Witch's Well," where the witch will be drowned, ending her reign of terror. The Witch's Well exists because every time a witch dies, a new one is born and the witch can only be killed by drowning. There are a lot of plot inconsistencies with this. First of all, I feel that murdering innocent girls and women should lead to, I don't know, more political outrage? They are dropping an innocent girl down this well every day, claiming she is "the witch," and the reaction to this is kind of just like, "oh well" (I, Kaitie, am queen of puns FYI). Toran and Nes both obviously are outraged about the drowned girls, but it just doesn't seem like anyone else in the kingdom cares? It's a very passive plotline.

​The writing also feels incredibly juvenile. While the descriptions and scene setting aren't bad, the dialogue and overall plot development feel poorly stitched together. It didn't work for me.

​Despite my personal issues with the story, it was still entertaining. It had plenty of great moments; however, it feels like it should have had more fine-tuning to make the plot and characters come alive. I'm giving it three stars based on the entertaining banter and good story foundation—even though, unfortunately, it missed the mark for me overall.

•

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback in this review are my own.

[veerali]

i don't think this one was for me...

[tai ⋆☀︎.]

After finishing Part 1, I decided not to continue with this book.

I felt the author had plenty of time to establish a solid plot and give readers a better understanding of Toran's and Nes's motivations, making us invested in their journey. Unfortunately, that never happened for me within the first 28% of To Drown a Witch. The story lacked a firm sense of direction, both in its plot and worldbuilding. Even after reaching that point, I still didn't understand why resolving succession issues through a duel between the Prince and the Crown was considered a reasonable solution.

The writing style also didn't work for me. It often felt overly busy, especially during scenes that called for a stronger sense of urgency or action. While I can appreciate descriptive prose, here it frequently clashed with the pacing of the story.

I think the comparison to The Crimson Moth raised my expectations too high. Both books share certain elements, but in my opinion To Drown a Witch executes them less effectively, which made the similarities highlight the book's weaknesses rather than its strengths.

Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB]

🖤🔮 To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson 🔮🖤

💭 Bookish Thoughts
I'll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

✨What to Expect
• Enemies to Lovers
• Royal Guard MMC
• Thief FMC
• Witch Hunt
• Forced Proximity
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Andi]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.

I liked the idea of this book, the execution of it ... well, it could use some work.

It's held up with this very flimsy tale of a witch who is out for revenge, muddled and mixed in a story about a prince and his alternate vying for the throne. The alternate is a captain of the guards and well, he has some emotional baggage when it comes to witches since a previous expedition to kill one caused his wife to die in a ship sinking.

He is paired up with a female who is spunky, but kind of has that hots for him (60% in and both of them have the hots for one another but it's not quite clear on how strong the hate is for one or the other). The female has a talent of seeking out other magical users in a world where witches exist, and people can leach magic from trees in a forest.

The world building is flimsy, the thing is billed as a romantasy so expect a lot of focus on how both parties can't stop thinking about the other (which is confusing since we saw the male lead trying to drink his sorrows away from what happened to his wife previously). She is anti-cop / government / guard because they kill a lot of witches by drowning them in a well. It just doesn't make sense but because, well, ROMANTASY, it will happen!

I really think that there could be a story here, but at 60% in I was getting too annoyed with it because it was all talk but no substance.

Out of respect, choosing not to rate due to not finishing.

[Kim]

3.25 ⭐️ - I love a Witch/Witch-Hunter story, so when I saw To Drown a Witch was being compared to Heartless Hunter, I had to pick it up. Though there are definitely overlaps between the two books, I don't think To Drown a Witch does the plot, mystery, or the romance as well. But overall, I found this to be an entertaining, fast read despite a few issues.

Part of the reason it's such a fast read is that there's pretty minimal worldbuilding. You get a few short explanations on the magic here and there, and the setting is kept vague. I did wish the world and magic system were more built out, but the lack of detail meant we jumped straight into the plot.

I really loved our main characters and their banter. Nes is witty, confident, and competent. Our MMC Toran is coping with grief and dealing with alcohol dependency, which is a heads-up if that's a sensitivity for you. Beyond the grief, he doesn't have many other personality traits. I liked their dynamic together. I'd say the the romance is closer to reluctant allies to lovers to maybe enemies, which I always enjoy.

So, lots to like here, but there were also a few glaring issues that kept pulling me out of the book.

A lot of the things that happen don't make sense. Some are minor details like our FMC is on the run from her old boss, but goes home every night to her apartment which is in the same building as his business. Others are bigger, like throughout the mystery, we leap from clue to a really convenient solution that isn't explained, so I found myself having to fill in the gaps. The ending twists are the biggest example because this book is dual POV, so the last 15% or so only works if neither character ever once thinks about what they're planning to do. All these issues stacked on top of each other made the book a little incoherent and hard to wrap my mind around. If you're the kind of reader who holds onto details (like me 🙋🏽‍♀️), these issues may frustrate you. If you're not, you'll probably have a good time.

The ending encapsulates how I feel about this book. It didn't make a ton of sense, but it was so entertaining and shocking that I'm definitely going to read the next one. If you're looking for a well built out world and a coherent plot, I would avoid this one. If you want a fast and twisty Witch vs. Witch Hunter story, this one is worth a look.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

Burner Kindle Book Blog

[Mackenzie]

2.5 stars rounded up!

I can't pinpoint it exactly, but this ultimately wasn't my favorite. I found both main characters to be unlikable, and the twists were either predictable, or strayed too far on the edge of ridiculousness that it didn't make sense for the story, feeling forced. This also lacked elements I really enjoy in YA fantasy stories. I was missing the found family vibes, the angst I love in enemies to lovers, and all the strategic scheming. I do think it's fair to market this as similar to Heartless Hunter (that is what actually made me request this), but I just think, unfortunately, it pales in comparison. All the being said, it held my interest enough for me to keep reading, and the ending captured me enough that I not only felt it fair to bump up my rating, but I think I'll pick up the sequel too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Wilson]

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the chance to read this arc.

To Drown a Witch was ok. Nothing outstanding or memorable really. The book was fast paced but confusing a lot of the time. Im still not 100% sure how magic works. The final 15% of the book was very chaotic and I struggled to wrap my head around certain bits. I didn’t see the ending coming anyways so it definitely wasn’t a predictable read. What I did love was the chemistry and banter between Nes and Toran.

I’m assuming after that cliffhanger ending there will be a sequel but i’m unsure whether I’ll pick it up or not.

[Clarabel]

J’avais vraiment envie d’aimer ce livre et il possède des éléments qui m’ont beaucoup plu. L’ambiance est sombre, les meurtres sont macabres et la chasse aux sorcières est captivante.

En revanche, la romance m'a laissée sur ma faim. Elle m'a semblé trop rapide pour être crédible. Les deux protagonistes se rencontrent et très vite l'attirance est actée. Ils cessent d'être de véritables adversaires. Même si les nombreux rebondissements de la fin viennent compliquer leur relation, je ne me suis pas attachée aux personnages.

Et comment ne pas penser à Heartless Hunter ? Lui est membre de la Garde Royale, elle est une voleuse. Ils doivent collaborer pour retrouver la Sorcière. Ils ont leurs secrets et se méfient l’un de l’autre. La dynamique fait donc penser à Gideon et Rune, sans égaler la tension et l'interdit de leur relation. Et puis l'alchimie entre Nes et Toran reste moins addictive.

L’enquête reste cependant entraînante, avec de nombreux indices pour prévoir ce qui va arriver et d'autres qui surprennent vraiment. Attention, la fin est ouverte (une suite est attendue). De plus, c'est parfois à la limite du YA avec des condamnations et des meurtres violents. Le héros est aussi présenté comme alcoolique. Et puis l'ambiance à Gadore est bien glauque.

Bref, c'est différent de ce que j'avais imaginé (oubliez la vibe Heartless Hunter). Je conseillerais davantage ce livre comme un conte noir teinté de fantasy que comme une véritable romance.

[QuirkyTofurkey]

I thought I had this story figured out. I was so confident in my predictions that my interest had actually started to wane around the 75% mark. Alas, I was committed, so I persevered.

I OWE THE AUTHOR AN APOLOGY. I could not have been more wrong. I am sorry for losing faith. I am sorry for doubting you. I am sorry for having an outrageously inflated opinion of my detective skills. You. Fucking. Got. Me.

The last quarter of this story is pure DRAMA. Now I need book two like yesterday. I am absolutely chomping at the bit to find out what is happening with our little princeling.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Lindsey Olsson for the advance reader copy and for keeping me on my toes. This review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[greta ❀]

this had a kind of interesting (but predictable) plot, and the world was decently interesting, but the romance was NOT it, it really put me off the whole book

[marionrjj]

4,75⭐️
franchement les 100 dernières pages c’était surprise sur surprise

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews)]

Debut author Lindsey Olsson has hit it out of the park with To Drown a Witch, the first book in her To Drown a Witch duology. This story had everything I could want in a romantic fantasy and more.

Told from the dual POVs of Nes Deivana, a criminal who survives by snuffing out magic for Phineas Wraw, Gadore’s underlord, and Toran Roada, the young captain of the Orlonean King’s Guard and the Prince’s Crown, To Drown a Witch is an enemies-to-lovers romantic fantasy that combines found family, friendship, betrayal, and a cat-and-mouse mystery that will leave you shocked at the end.

When guards around Gadore start being horrifically killed, everyone knows the Witch has returned. King Harkett tasks Toran with locating the Witch and bringing her to justice. In order to accomplish his mission, Toran calls on Nes to assist him, with the promise of freeing her father from Walled Prison. Together, the two search for the Witch, all while another captain is bent on finding the Witch himself and killing her, just as he did the previous one. This means that innocent women are being killed without a trial. Very much reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials.

I immediately loved the characters of Nes and Toran. Their dislike/distrust of each other is very valid and deserved. Their fade-to-black romance was a slow burn in the best possible way. Nes and Toran are both battling their pasts and have secrets of their own. Hunting for the Witch changes them in some ways. The plot and story itself make To Drown a Witch good. But it is the twists and turns that put this story over the top. I don't even know what that ending was! Shocking is the first word that comes to mind. I just know that I need the next book immediately!

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“Caring isn’t a weakness, it could be your greatest strength.”

“Everyone’s broken. It’s how you piece yourself together that matters.”

**Received a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a hardcover copy.**

[Beaureale_books]

To Drown a Witch avait tout pour me plaire. Le résumé promettait une quête captivante, une chasse à la sorcière et un duo improbable, le tout dans un univers de fantasy qui m’intriguait beaucoup.

Malheureusement, ma lecture m’a laissée un sentiment mitigé. J’ai trouvé que le début était très long à se mettre en place. L’univers et les personnages sont décrits avec beaucoup de détails, mais le rythme peine à décoller, ce qui a rendu les premières centaines de pages assez lentes.

À l’inverse, les 150 dernières pages concentrent presque toute l’action. Les événements s’enchaînent enfin et deviennent vraiment intéressants, mais j’ai eu l’impression que tout allait beaucoup trop vite. Certaines scènes auraient mérité d’être davantage développées pour laisser le temps aux émotions et aux révélations de prendre leur place.

C’est donc une lecture qui m’a laissée partagée : un univers prometteur et une fin riche en action, mais un déséquilibre dans le rythme qui m’a empêchée d’être totalement conquise.

Merci à @robertlaffont et @gleeph pour l’envoi ✨

[Jenn Norris]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of “To Drown a Witch”! This is my honest and completely voluntary review! 😊🖤

“To Drown a Witch” follows FMC Nes, a hired hand from “The Ditch”, and MMC Toran, the Prince’s Crown, an unlikely pair, that partner together to find the witch and bring her to the king. From there, the king will decide her fate. There are several bumps along the way but, the ride is well worth it!

The characters are intriguing and magnetic. The adventure that these characters go on is very interesting and compelling. The world is very well described and easy to picture. The story is beautifully written. There are several twists throughout that keep you on the edge of your seat. I read this book in one day, had it not been for having to work, I would have happily read it in a single sitting! The magic basis in this story is captivating. I went in blindly and so happy that I did! Jumping into this story was the absolute perfect way to spend an afternoon!

I absolutely cannot wait for the second book in the duology to continue this story! I will most definitely read from Lindsey Olsson again in the future. This book is well worth the read. I completely enjoyed my time with the characters and I wait for the conclusion of this tale with bated breath. Definitely recommend reading if you love fantasy! 😊🖤

5 🌟

[Cecilia]

10%

[Angie | conciliabule__]

3,5 ou 3,75/5, je sais pas encore.

J'ai envie de dire que c'était mieux que Heartless Hunter, qui est le livre le plus souvent mis en comparaison dans certaines reviews ou dans le marketing (mais il faut dire que je trouve cette duologie surcotée).

Le livre est divisé en trois parties, avec le POV de Nes, une voleuse, et celui de Toran, un garde royal et dauphin du prince.
On passe d'une partie à une autre après de grosses découvertes et, plus on avance dans l'intrigue, plus les révélations s'enchaînent. Certaines sont prévisibles, mais dans l'ensemble, elles restent surprenantes. J'ai trouvé l'intrigue aboutie, bien travaillée et suffisamment captivante pour ne jamais avoir envie de lâcher ma lecture.

Le worldbuilding est plutôt classique, entièrement basé sur la chasse aux sorcières (ici une seule), avec une magie interdite qui prend parfois des allures de drogue. Le système de magie est assez léger, mais il parvient tout de même à se démarquer.

Les deux protagonistes ont une sacrée personnalité, très bien décrite.
Toran vit un deuil et un échec qui le font sombrer. Ça change du héros puissant et sans faille. Il nage dans sa peine et ses doutes, mais conserve suffisamment de mordant pour poursuivre ses objectifs.
Nes a du bagou, elle est intrépide et piquante dans ses répliques, ce qui donne lieu à des échanges parfois comiques.
L'enemies to lovers est cohérent, très bien respecté même, mais il m'a manqué l’étincelle qui aurait pu me faire frémir. Peut-être ai-je simplement lu trop de romantasy de ce style.

Les personnages secondaires auraient mérité un peu plus de développement, mais on sent que l'autrice souhaite construire un found family pour la suite.

En somme, une romantasy divertissante qui saura séduire les fans de sorcières. Si vous avez aimé Heartless Hunter, il y a de grandes chances que celui-ci vous plaise également. Je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule fois. Il y a très peu de moments de répit, mais tout s'enchaîne parfaitement. Que ce soit les péripéties ou les scènes plus romantiques, tout est bien lié, sans jamais donner l'impression de vouloir cocher une liste de tropes.

Le livre audio, avec sa double interprétation, est un vrai plus pour l'immersion.

Très curieuse de savoir la suite, vu cette fin trépidante.

Merci à NetGalley et aux éditions Lizzie pour le service de presse audio.

[Shawna]

To Drown A Witch
3⭐️

The land of Orlonea has feared the Witch and her fatal magic above all else. After she is defeated, another is born to a new generation and is the only person who has their own magic. But, when members of the guard begin dropping like flies, they know the Witch has returned. Toran, the Prince’s Crown, is on a mission to find the Witch and end her reign. However, he’s not alone. He will be joined by Nes, a criminal who has the ability to sniff out magic. However, what they don’t expect is the Witch to always be one step ahead.

I want to preface by saying that I did not know, until after finishing, that this is meant to be a duology. With that being said, it is obvious that there are going to be open storylines that need to be tied up. However, without knowing, it left me so confused during the book, especially at the end. So, I sat with it for a bit.

I do think this story has a lot of potential. The Magic system was interesting and the idea that it can be siphoned from the trees and diluted by seawater was something I hadn’t seen before. I also enjoyed the idea of the markings, other language, etc with the Witch and the murders. However, that’s where it ended for me. I felt like the story didn’t really go anywhere, literally and figuratively. They stayed in the same region and there was no real forward motion. The characters were also not really memorable. I also feel like there were randomly placed comments that maybe were meant to lead into loose ends that will be tied up in the next book, but some of it just felt out of place. I found myself wondering “why say that” or “what is even happening”? And I felt more confused at times than intrigued.

Thank you Storygram Tours and Penguin Teen for a finished copy of this book.

[Haley ♡]

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

OOO immediately caught my eye once I saw
-enemies-to-lovers
-romantasy
-witches
- fans of Heartless Hunter

sign me up

[Jessica]

3.5/4 rounded up to 4.

This was a rollercoaster of a ride and I will be eagerly be awaiting the second book. The ending, omggggg. The story itself and the way the magic worked was unique. I like that magic was seen as an illicit underground substance, it was a fascinating way to build the world around that. The concept of one Witch existing at a time and the magic being passed down upon the Witch's death made this also a fun mystery of "who done it?"

I would say this is more New Adult than YA.

Can't wait for the next installment and to see where this story goes.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this story

[Mauireadsbooks]

If you liked The Crimson Moth, you'll definitely enjoy this one too!

This book is filled with great banter, fun charachters, predictable and less predictable twists, and morally grey people that keep you guessing. Honestly what made this book great was the writing as well, I flew through thus book! And I love that this has an unconventional ending!!

[MyNeverEndingTBRList]

DNF at 48%.

I think a lot of people will love this, but it wasn't for me.